Automatic sound reproducing apparatus



Oct. 18, 1932. R. B. BRYANT4 AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Jan; 19,

1931 A 4 sheets-sheet 1 Ina Het su.

Oct. 18, 1932. R. B. BRYANT AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1931 nur:

D l 1 vNTLmrP fl- UWQ Oct. 18, 1932.l R. B. BRYANT AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRODUCNG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, `1951 4 sheets-sheet 5 Oct. 18, 1932. R. B. BRYANT UTOMATIVC SOUND REPRODUCING AIPPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented oci. 1s, 1932 l u 1,883,527

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UTOMATICI SOUND `RIEPB0DCIN';' .PPAELATUS applicati@ mea January 1a, 1931. serial No. 509,852.

This invention relates to new and useful ing the motor control switch and its operatimprovements in automatic sound repoduc.- ing cam, ing apparatuses. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view show- One object of the invention is to provide ing the suction pump and its operating cam,

means for removing a record from the top of Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view show- 5c a supply stack mounted on a turntable to the ing a section of the reproducer shift control bottom of the supply stack, whereby the. switch arm and its actuating cam,

.records may be successively reproduced. Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view show- Another object of the invention is to proing a section of the reproducer lifting lever vide means for reversing the top record after and its actuating cam, 55

the reproduction of one side thereof and for Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view showreturning said record to the top of the stack ing a section of the reproducer shifting means on the turntable for reproduction of its opand its operatingcam, posite side before being removed to the bot- Figure 10 is a detailed sectional view of the of the records are successively reproduced. u igure 11 is an enlarged horizontal sec- A further object of the invention is to protional view of the record shifting actuating vide new and novel means for engaging the means, records by their central portions to remove Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the -le them from the supply stack, whereby records reproducer shifting control switch, 65 of various sizes y"may be easily and simply Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view of engaged. the record engaging means taken on the luie A still further object of the invention is to 13-13 of Figure 4, i provide improved means for controlling the Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view taken 25 shifting of the reproducer, whereby the re- 011 the 11116 lil- .14 0.F1g11r0 13, 7c producer is positioned for engagement with Flgure. 15 1s a vertical sectional view taken various size records at the beginning of their 0D the 1111 1.5-'15 0f F1gu1`e 4g and Scores Figure 16 isa schematic wirlng diagram.

A construction designed to carry out the in- In 'the dfawlngs the nume/1231 10 delgnafS vention will be hereinafter described toa Supportmg frame or housmg havmg 51de 75 gether with other features of the invention. Standards 11 and abase l2' A Shelf 13 1S SUP' The invention will be more readily under- Ported at 0ne end of the frame 01% legshli' A* stood from a reading of the following speci'- tutble 15 1S mlunld Ong invii S1 fajft 16 iication and by reference to the accompanyex Ill mg upvar 1g lpllg. e s I'Olrln in drawin s in which an example of the inan e ec-tnc m0 or W 1C 1s .Secure to t e so g g underslde of the shelf. The diameter of the tom of the stack, whereby the opposite sides re roducer control means, 6.:

Vefmn 1S shpwu :11nd herenfl' d turntable is such that the edges of both the lgure. l 1S a' p an Vlw o a.' evlqe con' standard ten inch and twelve inch records Stmted 1n lccorfance Wlth the mventlon will overhang the turntable, as shown in dot- Figure 2 isa side eleva-tion of the same, ted lines in Figure Q s 'Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional AS best Shown in Figures 3, 4, 13 and 14 a v1eVv v taken Q11 the 11D? 3 .3 0f Flgule l, suctionv ring 18 has an annular recess 19 be- Flglllze 4 1S a lOIlglfSllCllIll hOI'IZOIltal SBCj tween ilexible inner and outer annular lips tional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, 20 and 21. This ring may be made of any 4.3 Figure 5'is a vertical sectional view show- Suitable material,' such as rubber or the like at and is loosely mounted on trunnions 22 Within a yoke 23 on one end of an arm 25. Keys 22 on the trunnions extend into slots 24 in the ring for limiting the pivotal movement of the ring. The arm 25 and yoke have a central bore 26 which connects with the recess 19 by a duct 27. The opposite end of the bore is connected by a iexible hose 28 with a pump 29 so that upon operation of the pump with the lips of the ring engaging a record, any air within the recess and the bore will be drawn there'- from thus creating a suction therein and holding the record secure to the ring. i

For operating the pump, as is best shown in Figures 4 and 6, a link 38 connects a piston 39 yof the pump and one end of a lever 40 which is vpivoted at its other end to a raised support 41 on the base 12. A roller 42 on the lever rides on the periphery of a cam 43 which is mounted on a control shaft 44, whereby the rotation of the shaft will actuate the lever 40 and likewise the pump 29. The shaft has its opposite ends journaled in bearings 45 and 46 in the standards 11 and has secured thereon a gear 47. y This gear is meshed with a worm screw 48 on the drive shaft 49 of an electric motor 5'0 which is mounted on a raised base 51 of the panel 12.

The arm 25 is secured to a sleeve 30 on a shaft 31 which has its opposite ends journaled in bearings 32 and 33 of thestandards 11. A pinion 34 secured on the sleeve meshes with a segmental gear 35 -on one end of a lever 36. The lever is pivoted to a raised support 37 on the base panel 12. Thus, by rocking the lever 36 the sleeve is rotated and the suction ring 18 is swung in an arc into engagement with the top record on the turntable, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and then back to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3.

For rocking the-lever 36, as best shown in Figures 1 and 11, a link 52 pivotally connects the other end of the lever 36 to a crank 53 which is journaled in a bearing 54 mounted on the base 12. A stub shaft 55 carrying a clutch 56 is vrotatably and slidably mounted between the crank 53 and a similar crank 57 which is journaled in the adjacent standard 11. The clutch 56 has teeth 58 at op osite ends thereof for engagement with teet 53 and 57 formed in the hubs of the cranks 53 and 57, whereby upon the rotation of the clutch either of the cranks may be revolved. "Vith the revolving of the crank 53 the lever 36 is rocked and the suction ring is swung as hereinbefore explained.

For rotating the clutch a pinion 59 secured thereon meshes with a broad faced gear 60 on the control shaft 44, and for shifting the clutch a lever 61 pivoted to a pedestal 62 on the base 12 has a roller 63 on one end engaging in an annular groove 64 in the clutch. The other end of the lever carries a roller 65 which rides in an annular cam groove 66 in the hub of the gear 60, whereby upon the rotation of mental gear 69 and pinion 70 are similar to f the lever 36, segmental gear 35 and pinion 34, and upon the revolution of the crank 57 the lever 68 is rocked and the shaft 31 is alternately rotated.

A gear 71 secured on the shaft 31 adjacent the pinion meshes with a gear rack 72 while a gear 73 on the opposite end of the shaft 31 meshes with a gear rack 74 similar to the rack 72, Figure 4. These racks rest on the gears 71 and 73 beneath the overhanging edges of a' record slide 75 and have one end secured to depending flanges 76 of a pusher bar 77 which extends transversely of the record slide and is slidably supported thereon.

The record slide is supported upon the standards 11 and has trackways 78 and 79 for receiving various size records, such as the standard 10 and 12 inch records. A central transverse section is severed from the record slide and is secured to the pusher bar 7T by screws 81, whereby upon the alternate rotation of the shaft 31, the racks and like- Wise the pusher bar and section 80 are reciprocated, thus sliding any record inthe track- Ways from the sam-e onto the turntable. The

pusher bar then returns to its neutral position, as illustrated in full lines in Figure 1,

with the section 8.0 again forming a portion of the trackways. It is pointed out that the radii of the semi-circular portions of the trackways 78 and 79 are equal to the radii of the standard ten and twelve inch records, respectively, and that these semi-circular portions are concentric, whereby the section 80 may have a fixed travel to center both ten and twelve inch records on the turntable 15 over the center pin 16.

For lifting the record stack from the turni table free of the center pin so that a record will be returned to the 'bottom of the stack I provide a pair of longitudinal lifting arm;

82 and 83 at opposite sides of the apparatus. These arms have one end keyed to a rock 'shaft 84 which is journaled between the mit the lifting arms to easily spread apart so as to clear any record deposited on the turntable during the lifting action.

For rocking the shaft 84, a lever 86 secured thereon carries a roller 87 at its outer end, which roller rides on the periphery of a cam Vevery other time a record is returned to the turntable.

For spreading the lifting arme 82 and 83, links 93 and 94 pivotally connect the arlns with the upper ends of a T-shaped lever 95,

which is pivoted at its lower end to a pedestal 96 on the base 12. A roller 97 carried by the lever engages the periphery of a cam 98 ou the control shaft 44, whereby the rotation of the shaft will swing the lever and spread the lifting arms. A spring 99 mounted under tension between the arm 82 and the base 12 holds the roller 97 in engagement with the cam 98.

As best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 10, a reproducer 100 is secured on one end of an arm 101, which arm has its other end pivoted in a yoke 102. The yoke is rotatably mounted on an upright pedestal 103 at one corner of the shelf 13, and has an elongated shank 104 depending through the pedestal andbelow the shelf. A pin 105 in the lower end of the shank 104 prevents the upward displacement of the yoke, while an arm 106 adjustably secured on the lower end of the shank 104 eX- tends between pins 107 and 108 which depend from one end of a slide bar 109, whereby the reciprocation of the slide bar will rotate the i shank 104 and swing the reproducer in an arc.

The slide bar is suspended from the loottom of the shelf by broad headed screws 110 which extend through a slot 11.1 in the bar and are secured in the shelf. The other end of the slide bar is pivotally connected by an elongated link 11-2 with one end of a lever 113 (Figure 9). The lever is pivoted to a boss. 114 on the hase and carries a roller 115 n intermediate its ends for engaging the pereproducer is swung into position for engagement with a twelve inch record at the beginning of its score.

For raising and lowering the reproducer to' disengage orengage a record, an arcuate bar 119 on the upper end of a vertical plunger 120 engages'the underside of the reproducer arm 101. The plunger extends through an upright bushing 121 mounted in the shelf 13, and is supported on one end of a bell crank lever 122. -The lever is pivoted to a depending boss 123 of the shelf 13 and carries a roll-er 124 at its other end (Figure 8), which roller rides on the periphery of a earn 125 on the control shaft 44. The revolution of the cam will swing the lever 122 and raise or lower the plunger and-likewise'the reproducer.

As is best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 12, an electric switch 128 having a pivoted switch arm 129 and a contact 130 is pivotally mounted on a pin 131 on one end of a bell crank lever 132. The lever is pivoted at 137 to the adjacent side standard 11 and carries a roller 138 at its other end for riding on the periphery of a cam 139 on the central shaft 44, whereby upon the rotation of the cam the lever is swung and the switch is raised or lowered.

A spring 133 mounted under tension intermediate Ithe switch 128 and the lever 132 holds a pin 134 extending from the switch,

in engagement with an upright curved rod 135. The rod is mounted in a bracket 136 attached to the base 12. The curvature of the rod is such that as the switch is raised the pin 134 bearing against the rod will swing the switch in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) to the position illustrated in full lines. Vhen the switch is lowered it will swing in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 1) under tension of the spring. to a position at right angles thereto over the records on the turntable.

If the top record on the. turntable is a twelve inch record, a stud 140 depending from the switch arm 129 will strike the record and lift the switch arm into engagement with the contact 130, thereby completlng an electric circuit through the switch.

Ifthe top record is of ten inch size, the stud will not strike the record and the electric circuit will remain broken. The contact 130 has a wire lead 130 to one end 141 of the coil of a magnetic switch 142, which is secured to the underside of the shelf 13 adjacent the slide har 109. The switch has a pivoted actuating arm 143 with a finger 144 extending at right angles therefrom. The arm is normally held.undc`r tension of a spring 145 against a stop 146 and when the switch coil is energized the lever is actuated, thus swinging`v the finger in the path of a lug 109 on the side of the bar 109, so that `when said bar is actuated the lug will engage the finger and limit the movement of the bar to posi- 1S` tion the reproducer at the beginning of the score on a twelve inch record.,

The other end 147 of the coil is connected by a Wire lead 147 to the negative lead 148 of a 110 volt circuit, and the switch arm 129 is connected by a wire lead 129 to the contact 149 of a double throw switch 150. This switch is mounted on the base 12 with a shoe 151 on the spring switch arm 152 engaging a cam 153 on the control shaft 44. Upon the rotation of the cam the shoe will ride in a step 153', whereby the switch arm 152 is disengaged from the contact 149 and engaged with al contact 154.

The switch arm 152 is connected by a wire lead 152 with the positive lead 155 of the 110 Volt circuit, and the contact 154 is connected by a wire lead 154 to a contact 156 of the electric motor 17, the other contact 157 of which is connected by a wire lead 157 with the negative lead 148 o the 110. volt circuit. The contact 149 also has a lead 149 reaches the end of the score on a record with the motor 17 operating, a spring switch arm 160 secured on the lower end of the shank 104 has a wire lead 160 to the positive lead 155 of the 110 volt circuit. This spring arm is adjusted to engage a contact 161 on an upright support 162 on the base 12 when the end of the score on a record is reached by the reproducer. The contact has a lead 161 to the contact 158 of the motor 50, whereby the engagement of the spring arm '160 with the contact 161 will momentarily complete an kelectrical circuit to the motor to operate the same until the electric circuit is completed through the switch 150 to said motor.

In operation with the parts in the positions illustrated,l the control switch 163 is closed to complete an electrical circuit through the v:witch 150 to the motor 50. Upon operation of the motor the reproducer begins swinging toward the record for engagement therewith and the switch 128 is lowered at the same time on the top record on the turntable to determine its size. If the top record is of twelve inch size the magnetic switch 142 is actuated to position the reproducer over the twelve inch record. If a ten inch record ison top the switch 142 is not actuated andthe slide bar 109 positions the reproducer over the ten inch record. The re roducer isthen lowered onto the record at tllie beginningvof its score as the switch 150 is actuated to stop the motor 50 and start the motor 17 for rotating the turntable and records. One side of the top record is then reproduced.V

When the reproducer reaches the end of the score on the record the spring arm engages the contact 161 and starts the motor 50, whereupon the switch 150 is again actuated to stop the motor 17 and keep the motor 50 operating. The reproducer is then lifted and shifted away from the records as the suction ring 18 is swung into contact with the top recordiat its central portion. The suction ring is then swung in a reverse direction carrying the record with it and .turning said record over at the same time. The record is then released by the suction ring onto the record slide 75. e pusher section 8O then returns the record again to the top of the record stack on the turntable, whereby upon the following cycle of operation the reverse side of the record is reproduced.

Vith the removal of the record from the turntable to the slide, during the following cycle of operation, the record stack is lifted clear of the turntable and its center pin, whereby the return of the record to the turntable from the slide will deposit said record at the bottom of the record stack. The record stack is then lowered back onto the turntable and upon the subsequent operation of the parts the succeeding top record is reproduced, etc.

It is obvious that the cycle of operation of the various elements is entirely synchronous and automatic and perform the functions of reproducing first one side and then the other side of the top record of a record stackl on the turntable, then removing the record to the bottom of the stack, vwhereby the succeeding top record is reproduced. The successive reproduction of the records is repeated until the control switch 163 is opened.

Various chan-ges in the size and shape of the dii'erent parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention, what I claim, 1s:

1. In an automatic sound reproducingapparatus, a rotatable turntable, means for rotating said turntable, a plurality of superimposed sound reproducing records mounted on theturntable, sound reproducing means engaging the uppermost record for reproducing the same, and means for removing the uppermost record and inverting thesame and returning it to the turntable for reproduction of itsopposite side.

2. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, with means for disengaging the reproducing means vfrom the record during the inverting operation and for engaging said reproducing means with the opposite side of the record subsequent to the return of the same to the turntable.

8. An automatic sound reproducing aparatus as set forth in `claim 1, with means ibi' shifting the reproducing means to posltion the same for engagement With various sizes of records at the beginning of their scores.

4. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim l, with means for shifting the reproducing means to position the same for engagement with' various sizes of records at the beginning of their `scores, and automatically operated means for controlling the shifting means.

5. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, means for retaining a stack of records on the turntable, means for reproducing the uppermost record,

means for inverting the uppermost recordl and returning it to the top of the stack of records on the turntable, and means for lifting the record stack from the turntable upon the subsequent operation of the inverting means, whereby a record may be returned to the bottom of the stack of records.

G. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, with means for engaging and disengaging the reproducing means with and from the uppermost record. and means for shifting the reproducing means clear of the records during the inverting operations.

7. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, with means for positioning the reproducing means for engagement with various sizes of records at the beginning of their scores, and automatically operated means for controlling the reproducer positioning means.

8. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, means for rotating said turntable, a stored stack of records supported on the turntable, means for reproducing the uppermost record, means for engaging the uppermost record by its central portion, means for inverting the record engaging means to invert said record, and means for returning the record to the top of the record stack for reproduction of the opposite side of said record.

9. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, with means vfor lifting the stack of records from the turntable during the subsequent operation of the record inverting means, whereby the record may be returned to the turntable at thc bottom of the stack ofrecords. A l

10. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, a stack of records supported on the turntable, means for reproducing the uppermost record, a suction ring, means for alternately swinging the suction ring in an arc to engage the uppermost record at its central position, means for creating a suction within the ring to secure the record thereto, and means for` returning the record to the top of the stack of records on the turntable for reproduction of the opposite side of said record.

11. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, a record stack supported on the turntable, means for removing and inverting the uppermost record and returning it to the top of the record stack, sound reproducing means'including a stylus for engaging the record, means for engaging and disengaging the sound reproducing means with and from the uppermost record, means for shifting the reproducing means from the end of a score on a record to the bcginning of the score on a succeeding record, and means for automatically controlling the shifting means to position the reproducing means at the beginning of the score on a record irrespective of the diameter of said record.

12. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, a plurality of records of different diameters supported on the turntable, sound reproducing means, a record slide having a plurality of trackways, means for engaging a record and depositing it in an inverted position in one of the trackways, a pushing element, and means for operating the pushing element to slide the record from the trackway onto the turntable.

13. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 12, with the pushing element having means for centering the record irrespective of its diameter with relation to the center of the turntable.

14. In an automatic sound 'eproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, a plurality of superimposed records supported on the 'turntable, means for rotating the turntable, means for reproducing the uppermost record, means for engaging and disengaging the reproducing means with and from the record, means for shifting the reproducing means from thc end of the score on a record to the beginning of the score on a succeeding record, a record slide having trackways, means for engag` ing the uppermost record at its central portion, means vfor swinging the engaging means to invert the record and deposit it on one of the trackways, means for returning the record from the trackway te the turntable, including means for centering the record irrespective of its di amcter on the turntable for reproduction of the opposite side of said record, means for lifting the records from the turnt-abie during the subsequent operation of the record inverting means whereby the record may be returned to the .turntable at the bottom of the stack of records,

and means for continuously operating the various actuating means in their respective orders.

15. In an automatic sound reproducing apparatus, a rotatable turntable, a plurality of superimposed records supported on the turntable, means for reproducing the uppermost record, and means for inverting the up rmost record and returning it to the bottom of the record stack.

16. An automatic sound reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim l5, With'means for lifting the record stak from the turntable upon the return of the inverted record to said stack. t

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

lBOY B. BRYANT. 

